Daughter named as new Kazakh speaker

LEADER, 78, RESIGNED SUDDENLY

THE eldest daughter of Kazakhstan’s outgoing long-time leader has been appointed speaker of parliament, fuelling speculation that she may succeed her father as president after next year’s election.

Dariga Nazarbayeva’s appointment comes a day after her father, 78-year-old Nursultan Nazarbayev, surprised many by announcing he was resigning after nearly 30 years in office – or all of Kazakhstan’s time as an independent nation.

Mr Nazarbayev said it was time for a new generation to rule.

Though Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaker of the upper chamber of parliament, was officially sworn in as interim president yesterday, Mr Nazarbayev is likely to continue to wield consid- erable influence in the oil-rich country as he remains chairman of the security council and leader of the ruling party.

The question of who will succeed him is, however, still open.

Mr Tokayev’s suggestion at his swearing-in ceremony that the country’s capital Astana be renamed Nursultan to honour the country’s first and only president indicates that Mr Nazarbayev will retain an unrivalled position as the national leader even after his resignation. The parliament promptly approved the name change.

That was further evidenced in the fact that the Kazakh senate then voted to appoint Ms Nazarbayeva as the second most senior official in the country.